Survival knife, scabbard and sharpener assembly

ABSTRACT

A knife scabbard having a honing stone mounted on the backside thereof and provided with a cover which releasably snaps thereon to protect the stone. One embodiment provides a rigid tray fixed to the scabbard which receives and firmly holds the stone. A second embodiment has a depression in the scabbard backpiece within which the stone is secured by an adhesive.

United States Patent Edward A. Eastman Independence, Mo. 842,508

July 17, 1969 Apr. 27, I971 Locknife, Inc. Independence, Mo.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee SURVIVAL KNIFE, SCABBARD ANDSHARPENER ASSEMBLY 9 Claims, ll Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 224/2, 5 H21 1 Int. Cl F4lb 13/04 Field of Search 224/24, 25,2.6; 51/204, 21 1; 30/151 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS525,631 9/1894 Simmons 51/21 1 1,754,526 4/1930 Rittler 224/24 3,363,8131/1968 Eastman 224/24 Primary ExaminerGerald M. F orlenza AssistantExaminer-John Mannix Att0rneySchmidt, Johnson, I-Iovey & WilliamsABSTRACT: A knife scabbard having a honing stone mounted on the backsidethereof and provided with a cover which releasably snaps thereon toprotect the stone. One embodiment provides a rigid tray fixed to thescabbard which receives and firmly holds the stone. A second embodimenthas a depression in the scabbard backpiece within which the stone issecured by an adhesive.

PATENTEU APR27 I971 SHEET 1. 0F 2 INVENTOR Edward A. Easfman HTTORNEYS.

PATENTEU APRZ? I97! SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR, Edward A. [German SURVIVALKNIFE, SCABBARD AND SIIARPENER ASSEMBLY The present invention relates toimprovements in knife scabbards.

Under field conditions, it is particularly advantageous to have a honingstone conveniently available so that knife blades may be sharpened asnecessary. However, if available at all, the ordinary practice is tocarry a honing stone with other field equipment, oftentimes renderingthe stone unavailable when it is most needed. Manifestly, especiallyunder survival conditions where a knife is a basic instrument used indressing game and possibly as a weapon, the availability of a honingstone is of prime importance to the well being of the individual orindividuals involved. The problem is compounded by the fact that honingstones are quite brittle in nature and, therefore, must be carefullytransported to avoid breakage and, furthermore, when carried as aseparate article, there is always the likelihood that the stone willbecome lost.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention toprovide a knife scabbard which is'especially suited for mounting ahoning stone thereon whereby to render the stone conveniently availableat all times and eliminate the problems associated with carrying thestone as a separate article.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a scabbardhaving a tray on one side thereof receiving the honing stone and firmlymounting it on the scabbard, thereby providing additional backingsupport for the stone to facilitate sharpening of a knife blade.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a cover for thestone which is releasably secured to the scabbard by pivotallyinterlocking parts at each end of the cover, whereby one'end of thecover may be released and shifted to expose the stone while the otherend remains secured to the scabbard to prevent loss of the cover.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a scabbard havingfeatures capable of achieving the above objects, yet which isaesthetically pleasing in appearance.

, Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of a survivalknife, scabbard, and sharpener assembly made pursuant to the principlesof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view showing the knife removed from thescabbard;

' FIG. 5 is an enlarged, horizontal, cross-sectional view taken alongline 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, vertical, cross-sectional view taken along line6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, exploded view of the parts forfastening the honing stone and cover to the scabbard;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the liner insert for the scabbard,the insert being partially broken away for FIG. 9 is an end viewthereof;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. I l is a rear elevational view thereof.

FIGS. 1-9 of the drawings illustrate the preferred embodiment of myinvention. The scabbard includes a frontpiece 24 and backpiece 22 forprotecting the blade 34 from the corrosive tendencies of the adjacentleather pieces of scabbard 20.

The backpiece 22 forms a releasable loop with an apron 40 and at theother end by a pair of snaps 44. A leather flap 46 is secured to thesnaps 44 between the upper ends of the backpiece 22 and apron 40 andcarries a snap fastener 48 which cooperates with a retainer 50 at theend of the knife handle 52 for securing the knife 36 in scabbard 20.

It is often desirable to provide a thong such as 54 for use in securingthe knife 36 to the users wrist. A hole in the handle 52 may be utilizedfor this purpose. The thong 54 may be conveniently carried by threadingit through a series of apertures 58 in the scabbard 20.

To provide a convenient means for sharpening the blade 34, a sharpenerassembly 60 is fixed to the scabbard 20, preferably on backpiece 22. Thesharpener assembly 60, as most clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, includesa honing stone 62 fixed to backpiece 22 by a formed metal tray 64 whichhas a recess 66 therein snugly receiving stone 62, the inner face of thelatter being preferably bonded to the tray 64 within the recess 66 by anepoxy cement or other suitable adhesive. The tray 64 has a pair of endtabs 68 which are rigidly attached to backpiece 22 by a pair offasteners 70.

The sharpener assembly 60 further includes a cover 72, preferably offormed leather, which is releasably secured in a disposition overlappingstone 62 by a pair of releasable snaps 74 whereby, upon release of oneof the snaps 74, the cover 72 may be removed from the stone 62. Thecover 72 has a pair of opposed wings 76, there being one of the snaps 74and one of the fasteners 70 at each wing 76 as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 7, it may be seen that the parts of the sharpenerassembly 60 are designed to provide a sturdy means for sharpening theknife 36. To this end, the tray 64 is provided with thin sides 78 whichare received within a channel 80 on backpiece 22 extending around theentire outline of the tray 64. Further, a cavity 82 in backpiece 22 isdisposed to receive the backside of tray 64 corresponding to the recess66 so that the surface of tray 64 is substantially flush with thesurface of backpiece 22.

Each of the snaps 74 includes cooperable parts on the cover 72 andfastener 70. Interlocking structure in the nature of a polygonal plate88 on each fastener 70 and a polygonal indentation 90 in each end tab 68of tray 64 complementally receiving plate 88 therein, maintains thefastener 70 in tight fastening relationship with tray 64. The part onthe fastener 70 includes a male member in the form of a cylindrical ring92 on one face of the plate 88, and the part on snap 74 includes afemale member 94. The female member 94 and male member 92, while beingreleasably coupled, are also pivotally interlocked.

The fastener 70 further includes a threaded bolt 96 extending throughthe plate 88, tab 68 and the leather backpiece 22 which is retained by apolygonal nut 98 on the inside of backpiece 22. A polygonal depressionon the inside of backpiece 22 complementally receives the nut 98 to aidin rigidly attaching the tray 64 to the scabbard 20. A similar polygonaldepression on the outside of backpiece 22 receives the backside of tray64 corresponding to the depression 90 therein.

Mounting the honing stone 62 on the backpiece 22 of the scabbard 20 notonly provides a more convenient means for sharpening the knife 36, butalso protects the stone 62 from possible breakage. The user may nowavoid searching through other field equipment to find the stone since itis always conveniently available in the same location. Further, being inthis location spares the stone from the rough handling it might receiveif it were carried loose with other equipment.

In use it is but necessary to remove the scabbard 20 from the user'sbelt or other carrying means, unsheath the knife 36 and remove the cover72. It is important to note that the cover 72 need not be completelyremoved from the scabbard 20 due to the pivotally interlocking nature ofeach of the snaps 74. That is, by releasing the snap 74 at one wing 76,the cover 72 is free to pivot about the snap 74 at the other wing 76 toexpose the stone 62 without completely removing the cover 72 from thescabbard 20. In this way, the cover 72 is protected which is secured atone end to the backpiece 22 by rivets 42 75 from loss.

The presence of the tray 64 enhances the use of the scabbard 20 as abacking support for the stone 62 during use of the latter. It will beappreciated that having the stone 62 mounted on the scabbard 20 in thismanner provides a sturdy, easily grasped base upon which to work. Thedanger of accidental injury from the blade 34 is thereby greatlyreduced.

FIGS. and I1 relate to a second embodiment of my invention having manycomponents identical to those of the first embodiment which need not bedescribed in detail. The scabbard 120 includes a leather backpiece 122and a frontpiece 124 secured to the backpiece 122 defining a pocket (notshown) therebetween for receiving the blade of a knife 136. Thebackpiece 122 has a depression 125 provided in its outer surfacereceiving one of the flat, opposed faces 127 or 129 of a honing stone162. Adhesive means such as an epoxy directly bonds the face 127, forexample, to the backpiece 122 within the depression 125.

The scabbard 120 further includes a cover 172 in the nature of anelongated strap 173 having a pair of opposed ends 175, the strap 173being movable to and from a disposition overlapping the stone 162 toprotect the latter. A snap 174 at each end 175 releasably secures thecover 172 in its overlapping position whereby, upon release of at leastone of the snaps 174, the cover 172 may be removed from the stone 162 toexpose the latter.

Each of the snaps 174 includes cooperable parts on the cover 172 and thebackpiece 122 which are pivotally interlocking, thus upon release of onepair of said parts, the strap 173 may pivot about the other, unreleasedsnap 174 to and from the position overlapping the stone 162. In thismanner, it may once again be seen that the strap 173 need not becompletely removed from the scabbard 120 in order to use the stone 162.

The manner of use of this second embodiment is substantially identicalto that of the first embodiment. Each of these forms provides andextremely convenient means for sharpening a knife in the field, while atthe same time presenting an aesthetically pleasing knife scabbard.

lclaim:

l. A scabbard for an instrument having a blade, said scabbardcomprising:

a backpiece;

a frontpiece secured to said backpiece and defining a pockettherebetween for receiving said blade;

a honing stone;

a tray on said one piece having a recess therein snugly receiving saidstone;

means rigidly fastening said tray to said one piece;

a cover movable to and from a disposition overlapping said stone,whereby to protect the latter; and

means releasably securing said cover in said disposition whereby, uponrelease of the securing means, the cover may be removed from the stoneto expose the latter.

2. The scabbard as claimed in claim 1, said releasable securing meansincluding cooperable parts on said cover and said fastener means.

3. The scabbard as claimed in claim 2, there being interlockingstructure on said tray and said fastener means maintaining the latter infastening relationship with said tray.

4. The scabbard as claimed in claim 3,

said tray having a polygonal indentation therein,

said structure including a polygonal plate on said fastener means andsaid indentation, the latter complementally receiving said plate,

said cooperable parts including male and female members on said plateand said cover.

5. The scabbard as claimed in claim 2, said cooperable parts beingpivotally interlocking.

6. The scabbard as claimed in claim 5,

said cover having a pair of opposed wings,

there being a pair of said cooperable parts at each wing whereby, uponrelease of one pair of said parts, the cover may pivot about the otherpair to and from said overlap ing dis sition 7. A sea bard or aninstrument having a blade, said scabbard comprising:

a backpiece;

a frontpiece secured to said backpiece and defining a pockettherebetween for receiving said blade;

a honing stone fixed to one of said pieces;

a cover movable to and from a disposition overlapping said stone,whereby to protect the latter; and

means releasably securing said cover in said disposition whereby, uponrelease of the securing means, the cover may be removed from the stoneto expose the latter,

said stone having a pair of flat, opposed faces,

said one piece being provided with an outer surface having a depressiontherein receiving said stone; and

adhesive means bonding one of said faces of the stone directly to saidone piece within said depression.

8. The scabbard as claimed in claim 7,

said releasable securing means including cooperable parts on said coverand said one piece,

said cooperable parts being pivotally interlocking.

9. The scabbard as claimed in claim 8,

said cover being an elongated strap presenting a pair of opposed ends,

there being a pair of said cooperable parts at each end whereby, uponrelease of one pair of said parts, the strap may pivot about the otherpair to and from said overlapping disposition.

1. A scabbard for an instrument having a blade, said scabbardcomprising: a backpiece; a frontpiece secured to said backpiece anddefining a pocket therebetween for receiving said blade; a honing stone;a tray on said one piece having a recess therein snugly receiving saidstone; means rigidly fastening said tray to said one piece; a covermovable to and from a disposition overlapping said stone, whereby toprotect the latter; and means releasably securing said cover in saiddisposition whereby, upon release of the securing means, the cover maybe removed from the stone to expose the latter.
 2. The scabbard asclaimed in claim 1, said releasable securing means including cooperableparts on said cover and said fastener means.
 3. The scabbard as claimedin claim 2, there being interlocking structure on said tray and saidfastener means maintaining the latter in fastening relationship withsaid tray.
 4. The scabbard as claimed in claim 3, said tray having apolygoNal indentation therein, said structure including a polygonalplate on said fastener means and said indentation, the lattercomplementally receiving said plate, said cooperable parts includingmale and female members on said plate and said cover.
 5. The scabbard asclaimed in claim 2, said cooperable parts being pivotally interlocking.6. The scabbard as claimed in claim 5, said cover having a pair ofopposed wings, there being a pair of said cooperable parts at each wingwhereby, upon release of one pair of said parts, the cover may pivotabout the other pair to and from said overlapping disposition.
 7. Ascabbard for an instrument having a blade, said scabbard comprising: abackpiece; a frontpiece secured to said backpiece and defining a pockettherebetween for receiving said blade; a honing stone fixed to one ofsaid pieces; a cover movable to and from a disposition overlapping saidstone, whereby to protect the latter; and means releasably securing saidcover in said disposition whereby, upon release of the securing means,the cover may be removed from the stone to expose the latter, said stonehaving a pair of flat, opposed faces, said one piece being provided withan outer surface having a depression therein receiving said stone; andadhesive means bonding one of said faces of the stone directly to saidone piece within said depression.
 8. The scabbard as claimed in claim 7,said releasable securing means including cooperable parts on said coverand said one piece, said cooperable parts being pivotally interlocking.9. The scabbard as claimed in claim 8, said cover being an elongatedstrap presenting a pair of opposed ends, there being a pair of saidcooperable parts at each end whereby, upon release of one pair of saidparts, the strap may pivot about the other pair to and from saidoverlapping disposition.